Why a database-free CMS?
Most traditional content management systems rely on a relational database. For a lot of sites, that's unnecessary complexity.
The advantages of flat-file
- Portability: the whole site fits in a folder, versionable with Git
- Simplicity: no migrations, no SQL server to maintain
- Performance: an in-memory cache is plenty for most traffic levels
- Security: no SQL injection surface at all
When to avoid flat-file
If your site manages tens of thousands of pages with complex relationships between them, a database is still the better choice. For a blog, a brochure site, or documentation, flat-file is more than enough.